2020 Cyprus Country Report

Travel & Living
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Within urban areas, buses run on fixed routes roughly every half
hour, with services ending in the evenings at about 18:00 Monday
to Friday and earlier on Saturdays. Some routes have no service
on Sundays. Hours are extended until midnight during the tourist
season and some urban routes now offer a night bus service on
Fridays and Saturdays. Timetables are available from tourist offices
or directly from the bus companies. Rural buses connect towns
and villages and make frequent stops. The service is infrequent
with schedules limited to one or two routes per day. These buses
can often be smaller mini-buses. There are also buses providing a
service linking all major towns. These are generally very regular
and all buses are modern and comply with European standards. A
private company, Kapnos, provides a regular daily airport shuttle
service between the major towns and cities and both of the island’s
airports. There are no trains in Cyprus.
www.cyprusbybus.com
www.intercity-buses.com
www.kapnosairportshuttle.com
CAR HIRE & TAXIS
Car and motorcycle rental firms have offices in all towns, as well
as at Larnaca and Paphos International Airports. Their rates vary
according to the rental period, season of the year and extras. They
usually offer unlimited mileage and their cars can be delivered and
collected at the airports by prior arrangement. Rental cars and bikes
are usually delivered to the customer with a full tank of fuel paid for
by the customer. When the car is returned, the customer receives a
refund for any remaining fuel, unless stated otherwise in the contract.
Drivers under 25 years of age holding a driving license for less
than three years must inform the car rental company so special insurance
cover can be provided. Foreign visitors are strongly advised
to read the rental agreement carefully and demand fulfilment of
all their rights. Taxis are also very common, but before setting off
on your journey discuss the pricing with the driver and ensure the
meter is functioning. TravelExpress is another good option, as a
private company, which provides a shared taxi service between
cities in Cyprus. Taxi service app Bolt (formerly Taxify), which was
created in Estonia, has also successfully launched in Cyprus operating
in Nicosia and Limassol. The app allows users to set their
location and see where the nearest partner taxi is and order it. The
taxi can be tracked heading to the customer’s location and indicates
how far away it is and how long it will take to arrive. Customers can
also track their routes while inside the cab, preventing drivers from
taking longer routes and overcharging for trips. Customers can also
pay via their phones.
www.travelexpress.com.cy
www.bolt.eu
DRIVING
Roads are well maintained in and between the main towns, and
there are four-lane motorways connecting Nicosia with Limassol
and Larnaca. Driving is on the left in Cyprus and the maximum
speed limit on motorways is 100 kph (60 mph). Cyprus accepts the
driving licences of all EU Member States and any person with a valid
licence may drive legally in Cyprus. According to EU rulings, driving
licences issued before 1996 do not have to be exchanged for the new
Community Model and remain valid until their expiration. Non-EU
citizens may drive on valid foreign licences for a certain period (for
those with a US licence the period is six months). Relevant Consular
authorities can provide further information.
Important Numbers
Cyprus Dialling Code: +357
Emergency (medical, fire, police): 112
Emergency Air and Sea Rescue: 1441
Hospital information: 1400
Directory Enquiries: 11892
162 Country Report CYPRUS 2020